Trapped in a Marriage I Thought Was Love

Disgust churned in my stomach. I couldn’t stand another second in this place. But I reminded myself why I was here. Taking out the red envelope, I placed it on the table. “Here’s 10,000 dollars. Drop the case.”

Her bloodshot eyes gleamed with disdain as she let out a sharp sneer. “You think 10,000 dollars is enough for me to back down? Don’t insult me. I want 100,000.”

A cold laugh escaped me. She must have thought I was an idiot. My voice turned, cutting. “How much do you even make for one night of escorting? Let’s be clear: I’m divorcing William. These 10,000 dollars is all that’s left in his salary account. Do you think I’d waste more to bail him out?”

I leaned in slightly, my tone unwavering. “Besides, we live in the same neighborhood. You know what my mother-in-law is like. The moment she hears her son is in jail because of you, do you think she’ll stay quiet? Do you think people will still look at your son with respect?”

But she didn’t flinch. Instead, amusement flickered in her gaze. “Are you threatening me?”

I shook my head, my expression calm. “No. I’m just telling you how things are.”

She lounged back on the couch, her gaze dripping with disdain. “Don’t look down on me. I may be an escort, but as long as I don’t withdraw the case, William will rot in prison. Your mother-in-law will make my life hell, but do you think she’ll spare you? And I know you can’t get a divorce while he’s in custody. Do you really think he’ll let you walk away when he gets out?”

I let out a low chuckle. “That’s not your concern. I’ll clarify to William that I don’t have the money to bail him out. He’ll have to sit tight in there.”

Grabbing my bag, I reached for the red envelope, ready to leave.

But before I could react, Eris snatched it right out of my hand. “Give me the money. I’ll withdraw the case.”

I froze.

She laughed, eyes glinting with amusement. “What, too happy to think straight? Relax. I’ll freshen up and then I’ll go.”

With that, she shoved me out the door.

Her change in attitude was so abrupt it made my head spin. Just like that? Was it over?

Half an hour later, the door swung open and she looked at me in disbelief. “Why are you still here?”

“I’m coming with you.”

“There’s no need.” She dismissed me instantly, then suddenly turned back with a smirk. “What, scared I’ll run off with your 10,000 dollars? Don’t worry; your husband will be home tonight. If he’s not, come find me.”

She pointed at her house, her lips curling in amusement.

Her eyes were still bloodshot, her cheeks flushed, but she looked invigorated, as striking as the Hermès bag dangling from her arm.

I chuckled. “Alright, then. I’ll head home and wait for the good news.”

Since the house was under my mother-in-law’s name and there were no other assets worth fighting over, I didn’t need a lawyer’s input. I might as well start packing.

The moment I stepped through the door, my mother-in-law rushed past me, her eyes darting toward the entrance. When she didn’t see the person she was expecting, she turned back, her expression falling.

I braced myself for another round of her screeching, but instead, there was only silence. When I glanced at her, I saw her hunched shoulders and lowered head, so different from her arrogant tantrum at noon.

A sigh slipped from my lips. As infuriating as she was, I felt a flicker of pity. “If nothing unexpected happens, William should be back tonight,” I said before heading to the bedroom.

At my words, she instantly perked up. “Where are you going? My son’s coming home! Shouldn’t you prepare the groceries you bought earlier and cook a proper meal to cleanse his bad luck?”

Some people truly didn’t know their place. The moment you showed them kindness, they took it as an invitation to trample all over you. “Once he’s out, I’m divorcing him. If you want a meal, cook it yourself.”

She stiffened before letting out a sharp snort. “You really don’t know what’s good for you. If you divorce my son, who else would want you? But fine, I fully support the divorce.”

With that, she sauntered off, humming as if she’d just won some great victory.

My lips curled into a sneer. “You don’t need to worry about me. But your son, no car, no money and now a criminal record, do you really think he’ll still have his pick of women?”

She turned back with a scoff. “What kind of woman wouldn’t want to marry my son?”

I didn’t bother responding and walked straight into the bedroom.

By the time William returned, I had already packed my clothes. One suitcase filled not just with fabric and belongings but with the weight of six bitter months.

I held out his salary card. “There’s only ten thousand left. I gave it to Eris this afternoon.”

He took the card without hesitation, merely responding with a curt, “Hmm.”

His gaze drifted to my packed suitcase. “You’re… leaving now? I can take you.”

“No need. I’ve already called a ride. See you at the City Hall at ten tomorrow morning.”

Not a single word to stop me. Even though I had chosen this ending, a small part of me still felt disappointed. I took a deep breath and pulled my suitcase out of the bedroom.

As I passed through the living room, his mother busied herself in the kitchen, not even sparing me a glance. I used to run myself ragged in this house, trying to please them both. Looking at her now, I felt like the biggest fool in the world.

I booked a hotel for the time being. The divorce wasn’t finalized yet and I still had work to wrap up. Even if I resigned, I needed to finish my handover.

Thinking back on these past six months felt like waking from a long, suffocating nightmare.

Then, suddenly, a jolt of panic surged through me. My cat, the one I had brought with me when I got married, was still at William’s house.

I sat up in a rush, my heart pounding and quickly dialed his number.

Instead of his voice, a child's soft, unfamiliar tone answered, "My dad is taking a shower."

A chill ran down my spine. My fingers went stiff around the phone, but I forced myself to hang up immediately.

Heart pounding, I opened the home surveillance app. The screen flickered to life, revealing a boy fiddling with a phone.